Anchoring device for a spinal implant, spinal implant and implantation instrumentation

Abstract

Anchoring devices for rachidian implants, implants, surgical instruments, and surgical systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, an anchor comprises a stiff plate with a longitudinal axis, configured for penetration of its anterior end into a vertebral surface while its posterior end remains engaged with the implant. An implant may include a locking mechanism for the anchor. An anchor may include an abutment configured to abut a complementary abutment of an implant. In some configurations, inserting an anchor in a passage of an implant may displace a locking mechanism, which may resile and lock the anchor in the implant with complementary abutments of the anchor and implant abutting.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A combination for treating a spine, the combination comprising:
 an anchor comprising
 an anterior end configured for penetration of a vertebral surface, 
 a posterior end configured for impacting the anchor into a vertebra, 
 a longitudinal axis extending between the anterior end and the posterior end, and 
 a lock abutment surface disposed between the anterior end and the posterior end and oriented angularly to the longitudinal axis; 
 
 a spinal implant comprising
 an access surface configured to be accessible with the implant implanted in a spine, 
 a vertebral contact surface, and 
 a passage extending from the access surface to the vertebral contact surface defining an insertion axis for the anchor; and 
 
 a lock comprising
 an anchor abutment surface disposable along the passage and orientable angularly to the insertion axis, with the anchor abutment surface configured to operatively mate with the lock abutment surface of the anchor; and with 
 
 the anchor and lock together having an installed configuration in which the anchor is inserted in the passage with the anchor abutment surface of the lock and the lock abutment surface of the anchor mated and pressing the lock against a wall of the passage. 
 
     
     
       2. The combination of  claim 1  in which the anchor has a cross section oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis that defines an L shape. 
     
     
       3. The combination of  claim 1  in which the anchor has a cross section oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis that defines a V shape. 
     
     
       4. The combination of  claim 1  in which the anchor has a cross section oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis that defines a T shape. 
     
     
       5. The combination of  claim 1  in which the anchor has a cross section oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis that defines a U shape. 
     
     
       6. The combination of  claim 1  in which a portion of the anchor has a curvilinear shape along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       7. The combination of  claim 6  in which the passage has a curvilinear shape along the insertion axis complementary to the curvilinear shape of the anchor. 
     
     
       8. The combination of  claim 6  in which the passage has a rectilinear shape along the insertion axis complementary to the curvilinear shape of the anchor. 
     
     
       9. A combination for treating a spine, the combination comprising:
 an anchor comprising
 an anterior end configured for penetration of a vertebral surface, 
 a posterior end configured for impacting the anchor into a vertebra, 
 a longitudinal axis extending between the anterior end and the posterior end, and 
 a lock abutment surface disposed between the anterior end and the posterior end and oriented angularly to the longitudinal axis; 
 
 a spinal implant comprising
 an access surface configured to be accessible with the implant implanted in a spine, 
 a vertebral contact surface, 
 a passage extending from the access surface to the vertebral contact surface defining an insertion axis for the anchor, and 
 a lock retaining recess extending from the passage at an angle; and 
 
 a lock comprising
 an anchor abutment surface disposable along the passage and orientable angularly to the insertion axis, with the anchor abutment surface configured to operatively mate with the lock abutment surface of the anchor, and 
 a protrusion configured to fit within the lock retaining recess of the passage; and with 
 
 the anchor and lock together having an installed configuration in which the anchor is inserted in the passage with the anchor abutment surface of the lock mated with the lock abutment surface of the anchor and with the protrusion of the lock inserted in the lock retaining recess of the passage. 
 
     
     
       10. The combination of  claim 9  in which the anchor has a cross section oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis that defines an L shape. 
     
     
       11. The combination of  claim 9  in which the anchor has a cross section oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis that defines a V shape. 
     
     
       12. The combination of  claim 9  in which the anchor has a cross section oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis that defines a T shape. 
     
     
       13. The combination of  claim 9  in which the anchor has a cross section oriented generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis that defines a U shape. 
     
     
       14. The combination of  claim 9  in which a portion of the anchor has a curvilinear shape along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       15. The combination of  claim 14  in which the passage has a curvilinear shape along the insertion axis complementary to the curvilinear shape of the anchor. 
     
     
       16. The combination of  claim 14  in which the passage has a rectilinear shape along the insertion axis complementary to the curvilinear shape of the anchor. 
     
     
       17. A surgical instrument for implanting a spinal implant and attaching the implant to a vertebra with an anchoring device, the instrument comprising an implant holder elongated along a longitudinal axis extending between a grasping end and a pushing end and comprising a head having an implant connector, an implant facing surface, and a passage extending through the head and opening on the implant facing surface; an impactor elongated along a longitudinal axis extending between a posterior end and an anterior end of the impactor, the anterior end comprising a branch disposable into the implant holder passage; an anchor guiding surface configured to guide an anchor through the head and into an implant; a release configured to unlock the anchor from the implant. 
     
     
       18. The surgical instrument of  claim 17  further comprising a first loader slidable in the head on which the anchor guiding surface is disposed. 
     
     
       19. The surgical instrument of  claim 18  further comprising a second loader, with the impactor comprising two branches configured to push the first loader and second loader simultaneously. 
     
     
       20. The surgical instrument of  claim 17  further comprising an anchor extraction tool configured with a release configured to unlock an anchor from an implant.